Last week, my nine-year-old neighbor knocked on my door and gave me a pitch about sponsoring him in his school music program’s upcoming jog-a-thon. He was a little nervous and probably not as polished as he likely became ten neighbors later. But he stood there on my front porch and gave it a good shot, explaining that the funds would go to pay the music teacher’s salary and telling me why he likes playing the cello.
The best part? His mother stood twenty feet behind him, not saying a word. She just smiled and offered silent sales support. I would have written him the check even if he didn’t live right next door.
That nine-year-old kid was doing something too many high school kids skip (often because their parents take over the project). He’s looking an adult in the eye, shaking a hand, selling an idea, etc. It’s hard to imagine those skills not coming in handy in the future. And he’s learning them because his mother is letting her kid do the knocking himself.
From selling sponsorships, to seeking help from teachers, to securing part-time jobs or volunteer opportunities, when parents jump in and take over the process for their kids, the students might get what they (or you) wanted, but they miss out on the learning. It’s the learning from the knocking that will help them be successful in the long run. Here are a few past posts on this topic, including five fundraising tips and a nice reminder (with a link to a great Seth Godin post).